Running-gear for vehicles.



H. E. BRADLEY. RUNNING GEAR FOB. VEHICLES. `-A FPLIUATION FILED00125,'1909.

975,392. Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

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RUNNING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

Application led October 25, 1909. Serial No. 524,506.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT E.' BRADLEY, Y of Kalispell, Flatheadcounty, Montana,y

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Gears forVehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong durable running gearadapted particularly for automobiles and other vehicles from which theordinary pneumatic tire with the annoyance resulting from punctures andblow-outs is entirely eliminated.

A further object is to provide a running gear which will yieldinglysupport a vehicle body and permit it to ride easily over rough or unevenground.

A further object is to provide a running gear of very simpleconstruction, one which cannot easily get out of order and is con1-posed of few parts which are easily accessible for examination orrepairs.

My invention consists generally in interposing a yielding connectionbetween the hub of the'wheel and the axle.

Further, my invention consists in Various constructions andcombinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel, partly in section with myinvention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectionalview through the center of the wheel. F ig.- 3 is an edge viewillustrating the application of the invention to a front wheel, andshowing an application of the steering mechanism.

In the drawing, I have shown a wheel having a wooden rim 2, metal tire 3and spokes 4, all of ordinary construction. 5 is a hub having a surfaceG for a brake-strap and a sprocket 7 formed on the inner end of the hub.8 is a spindle or stub-shaft hav ing cones 9 and 10 thereon which haveball bearings 11 in said hub. The outer end of the spindle has a nut 12thereon as usual in automobile construction. The spindle projects at itsinner end beyond the hub and the sprocket 7 and a sheave 13 having a hub14 is secured on said spindle within a casing 15. Ball bearings 16 areprovided between said sheave and the walls of the casing. The spindle onwhich the sheave is mounted and the hub 14 project through acomparatively large opening 17 provided in the outer wall of saidcasing. The inner wall of said casing has a hub 18 that is secured onthe end of the main axle 19. The sheave slides freely up and down withinthe casing 15, limited in such movement by the engagement of its hubwith the wall around the opening 17. A spring 20 of the leaf type, ismounted on the top of the casing 15. Coil springs 21 are carried bybrackets 22 on said casing and are adapted to relieve the spring 20 orsupplement it when subjected to severe strain.` Openings 23 are providedin the wall of said casing and pulleys 24 are journaled in said openingson each side of said casing and the sheave 13. A cable 25 is attached atits ends to the spring Q0 and passes down under the pulleys 24 and overthe sheave 13 and a turn-buckle 2G is provided in said cable by means ofwhich the proper degree of tension may be obtained.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the invention applied to the forward wheelof an automobile or other vehicle, the casing having the steeringmechanism 27 connected therewith to permit oscillation of the forwardwheel in the usual manner. In other respects the construction is thesame as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In operation, the sheave will slide up and down in the casing 15 andwhen the wheel strikes an obstruction, will move upwardly with the wheeland the cable 25 will be put under tension, causing the springs 2O andQ1 to yieldingly resist the upward movement of the wheel and form acushion support therefor. I am thus able to use a nonpuncturing tire onthe wheel, either metal or solid rubber as preferred and at the sametime derive all the advantages resulting from the cushion support of apneumatic tire. In case the load on the axle causes the casing 15 to bedepressed and the springs carried thereby lowered, said springs willnevertheless be put under tension by the downward movement of thepulleys 24 drawing on the cable Q5 against the stationary sheave. Thewheel and the load will thus be cushioned without the employment ofsprings in t-he construction of the wheel and without the use of a pnewmatic tube.

There will be no danger of the stub or sleeve 14C pounding on the casing15 under ordinary circumstances. This could only happen when the wheelis lifted by a severe jolt and raised from the ground. The

springs under ordinary usage do not have a long vibration, but arecomparatively short and have a quick movement and the opening issufliciently large to prevent the sleeve 14 from either striking aboveor below when the springs are under proper tension. The chain belt-forthe sprocket wheel 7 is kept under uniform tension by an ordinary springtightener. I have not thought it necessary to illustrate either thechain or the tightening means in this application.

I claim as my invention l. A wheel and main axle therefor and meansconnecting the hub of said wheel with said axle, said means including acable extending in a plane parallel substantially with the plane of saidwheel and arranged to exert a downward pressure on said wheel, saidcable sliding lengthwise and accommodating itself to the position of thewheel, and yielding means supported by said axle and attached to theends of said cable.

2. A wheel and main axle therefor and means connecting the hub of saidwheel with said axle, said means including a cable extending in a planeparallel substantially with the plane of said wheel and having a bearingintermediate-to its ends arranged to exert a downward pressure on saidwheel, and a spring carried by said axle and attached to the ends ofsaid cable, for the purpose specified.

3. A wheel comprising a hub and stub axle journaled therein, a sheavesecured on said stub axle, a main axle having a guide for said sheave, acable arranged to exert a downward pressure on said sheave, and meansattached to said cable and yieldingly resisting independent verticalmovement of said sheave and said main axle and guide.

4. A wheel having a hub and stub axle journaled therein, and a sheavesecured to said axle, a main axle and casing mounted thereon in whichcasing said sheave is adapted to slide, a cable arranged to exertadownward pressure on said sheave, and means attached to said cable andyieldingly resisting movement of said sheave in said casing.

5. -A wheel having a hub and a stub axle journaled therein, a main axleand casing secured on said main axle and having a central opening in itswall to receive said stub axle, a sheave fitting within said casing andslidable therein, flexible means exerting a downward pressure on saidsheave, and means yieldingly connecting said flexible means with saidcasing. l

6. A wheel having a hub and stub axle journaled therein, a main axle,springs supported by said main axle, a sheave secured on said stub axle,a cable attached to said spring and bearing on said sheave and arrangedto be put under tension by the upward movement of said stub axle or thedownward movement of said main axle.

7. A wheel having a hub, a stub axle journaled therein, a sheave havinga hollow face secured to said stub axle, a main axle and casing securedthereon forming a guideway for said sheave, pulleys journaled on saidcasing, a flat spring carried by said casing, a cable attached to theends of said fiat springs and extending under said pulleys and over saidsheave.

8. A wheel having a hub, a stub axle provided therein, a sheave-mountedon said stub axle, a main axle and casing secured thereon, leaf springsmounted on said casing, coiled springs provided on each side of thesupport of said leaf springs on said casing and supplementing the same,pulleys mounted on said casing, and a cable attached at its ends to saidleaf springs and extending under said pulleys and over said shea ve.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our handsv this 20th day ofOctober 1909.

` HERBERT E. BRADLEY. vWitnesses:

C. F. GETCHELL, J. E. Cocxs.

